It is a combination of scholarship, genuine compassion for others, keen intellect, and social consciousness that come together to make Ahmir Allen not only a head above the crowd, but also a real champion for the next generation.
A tall figure with thoughtful eyes that appear to reflect his soul, Ahmir surprises the casual observer with a gentle spirit that emanates when he speaks. He freely discusses why he feels first impressions are important and why he strives hard to make sure he leaves a good and lasting one.
“I try to treat people nice and with respect immediately,” Ahmir says. “It’s easier and it’s a good way for people to remember you for special opportunities.”
The Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) High School senior, a self-proclaimed feminist, already holds an abiding appreciation for the intangibles of the world.
“I belong to the Feminist Student Union at my school because I’m opposed to gender inequality that is so prevalent in this society,” he says, with a level of maturity that far exceeds his 17 years. “Within the group, we work to fight against sexism, gender norms and gender stereotypes, especially in our school. I feel it is an important fight because sexism is still very strong in our society.”
Ahmir loves writing. His gift was discovered when he was an elementary student at Pittsburgh Minadeo K-5 in Squirrel Hill.
“At Minadeo, by the time he was about to switch to Pittsburgh Sterrett for the sixth grade, his fourth-grade reading teacher pulled me aside and told me then that he was ‘something special’ and we should be looking at Rogers Middle School for the Creative and Performing Arts and CAPA,” recalls his mother, Olivia Crocker, 45, who runs her own catering business. “He was placed in the gifted program, and then he entered Rogers. He just soared after that.”
Ahmir’s writing has been cultivated over the years through his participation in a variety of competitive writing programs—winning honorable mention in some—and three years in the University of Pittsburgh’s Young Writers Institutes. These were real boosts to his confidence, Crocker says.
“The Young Writers Program was extremely instrumental in developing his writing, the highlight of which was that they actually created a chapbook (a small book of creative work), so he has been published,” his mother adds.
Ahmir is philosophically immersed in the concept of sustainability, the importance of reuse and protecting the ecosystem. Named a 2015 World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh Global Travel Scholar, he spent several weeks last summer in Costa Rica. Each Global Travel Scholar program has a different mission and Ahmir choose sustainability.
“I worked at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens for one year,” Ahmir says. “I really got into horticulture and sustainability while there and found how it appealed to me.”
Because the Phipps program was only for one year, he was able to pursue the World Affairs Council opportunity when his 11th-grade teacher recommended him.
“I felt amazing being there,” Ahmir says. “It was an awesome learning experience. Costa Rica uses nature preservation and protection of biodiversity as a way to promote sustainability. About one-fourth of the country is considered protected land, and its rainforests are home to a huge number of different species. The government works with people in agriculture to promote sustainable farming as well.”
Those who meet Ahmir, interact with him or have influence in his life have outstanding opinions of him.
“Watching him develop over the last seven years has been a privilege,” says his English teacher, Mara Cragen, who’s known him since he was in sixth grade. “He is a light for the next generation of youth in so many dynamic ways. As a gentle soul who has sought a path of kindness and compassion in all of his dealings, he uses his writing as a means to make connections to the world at large.”
Ahmir is looking forward to graduating this spring. His plan is to enter Chatham University to pursue writing with a focus on poetry and short fiction. That makes his mother proud.
“I tried to be consistent in my efforts, to always encourage his talents and interests and to instill within him the value of diversity,” Crocker says of her parenting approach. “I gave him a love of music and culture, and mostly told him it is OK to step outside the box. Outside of the normal caring and nurturing we do, these things I feel were the important contributions to who he is now, and the man I hope he becomes.”
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Each month in the New Pittsburgh Courier, McAuley Ministries will sponsor an article highlighting the positive contributions of an African American youth—male or female. We welcome community members to suggest a young person to feature in this monthly column.
Criteria include:
• Youth and young adults, ages 12-23
• Documented evidence of leadership or achievement in community service/volunteerism; leadership or achievement in their classroom/school; creativity as an artist, musician, dancer or filmmaker; success as an entrepreneur; leadership in advocating for social justice and equity; and/or achievement in corporate or nonprofit arenas
• A resident of Allegheny County.
Readers who would like to suggest a youth for this feature should email GenNext@pmhs.org.
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